Talking toy mechanism



Nov. 27, 1928. 1,693,228

F. EVANS TALKING TOY MECHANISM Filed March 21, 1923 fig. L

12 5 /Z 15" N ;i 230 v 14 18 I: l 1

INVENTOR.

FRED EVANJ'.

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

U ITED STATES FRED EVANS, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO y A 1,693,228 PATENT OFFICE.

VOICES INCORYORATED, A CORPORATION OF DELAXVARE.

TALKING TOY MECHANISM.

Application filed March 21, 1923. Serial No. 626/298 This invention relates to sound producing devices, more particularly such as are used in toys, and it is herein intended to devise a sound producing mechanism for use in talling dolls.

One object of this invention is to provide a sound producingdevice of the class described, which will emit a sound closely simulating the cry of a child, and which at the same time may be cheaply constructed, and rugged enough to withstand the rough usage to which such de vices are ordinarily subjected.

. Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will moreclearly appear from the detail description given below taken in connection with the accompanying; drawings which form a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein I have shown a preferred form of embodiment of my invention, the Figure 1 is a view of my device in side elevation, parts heingshown in vertical cross-section.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the sound regulating means.

\Vith reference now to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the views thereof, the reference character 1 designates a casing constructed of paper, fibre or other like material.

This casing is preferably cylindrical in form and one end thereof is closed by a head 2. In-

termediate the ends of the casing is a second head 3, the'inner face of which is channelled as at 4.

Overlying this channel and held therein by a spring ring 5 is the marginal edge of a bellows 6, this bellows being constructed of some cheap air-proof material such as rubberized fabric; The bellows is preferably tubular in form and circumferentially creased, as shown in Figure 1. At the upper end, the bellows is closed by a disc 7, which is made of heavy material such as cast lead, and depending from the weight 7 is a cam rod 8 which passes through the interior of the bellows and extends through an aperture in the head 3, the rod below the head being bent in an irregular form which provides cam surfaces 9 and 10. for a purpose later to be described.

An aperture 11 is bored through the head 3 near one edge and overlying this aperture, and mounted on the outer face of the head is an air-tight chamber 12, in the wall of which is mounted a reed 13, the end of this reed projecting into a similar chamber 14 provided with an orifice, 15. It will be thus seen that communication may be made between the atmosphere and the interior of the bellows. Mounted on the outer surface of the chamber 15 is a closure or door 16, the door being mounted on a hinge 17 and having attached to its upper surface an L-shaped arm 18 terminating in a loop 19 through which passes the end of the rod 8. At the point of the elbow there is attached a coil spring 20, the other end of which is anchored to the wall of the casing as at 21.

It will be further noted that the door 16 is provided with a cushioning disc 22 which lies, under normal conditions, in intimate contact with the face of the chamber 14 so as to close the orifice, the spring 20 causing the door to be biased to this posit-ion.

It Will be understood, that devices of this character are ordinarily to beemployed in communication with toys, and the particular device here shown is designed for use in a talking doll, being commercially known as a voice for dolls. The voicewill be concealed within the body of the doll and be so positioned that upon changes in position of the body of the doll, the weight 7 will be. drawn by gravity either to distend or collapse the bellows 6. Upon the collapse of the bellows, a sound will be produced.

Assuming that the doll has been moved to such a position that the "oice is to produce a cry, the various parts will be relatively located as indicated in Figure 1 and the instant the doll assumes the position in which the cry is to be produced, the weight 7 will be free to travel downwardly under the influence of gravity to collapse the bellows. As the weight passesdown, air will be expelled from the bellows and pass through the aperture 11 into the reed chamber and through the reed chamber into the orifice chamber, where it will be slightly compressed owing to the door 16 being held shut by the spring. Little or no sound will, accordingly, 'be produced.

As the weight proceeds downwardly. however, the first hump 9 on the cam will engagethe outer end of the loop and draw the door from its seat, swinging it on its hinge against the action of the spring 20' The expelled air will then pass into the atmosphere with the production of a clear note by the reed. WVhen'the hump 9 passes beyond the a by resulting in the production of a single syllable. This will be followed, after a brief interval, by the second hump 10 engaging the loop to open the door, resulting in a second note being produced. This second sound will continue until the hump 10 rides beyond the loop, whereupon the door will swing shut and the sound be entirely cut oil. The result will be the production of a distinct ma-ma cry.

The partswill now be in a collapsed position, whereupon the body of the doll will be changedas, for instance, to the upright position, when the weight will'be drawn outwardly by gravity to distend the bellows, being held by gravity in the outward limit of travel. The parts are now ready to repeat the cycle of operations which will be started as soon asithe doll is moved so that the weight may collapse the bellows.

It will be seen that I have devisedfa sound producing mechanism well adapted to attain the various aims and objects previously set forth. The device is. madeoi a few inexpensive parts, readily assembled and easily mounted and concealed in'position. it will be noted that the casing projects a consider able distance beyond the head 3', thereby protecting the operating parts.

I WVhile I have shown the cam rod 8 to be pro vided with two humps by means of which two distinct syllables are formed, it will be clear that the cam surfa'ces'formed thereon maybe so designed as to produce a single continu ous cry or various other combinations of syllables, as may be desired. The reed ordina ly selected will be high pitched whereby to. simulate the cry of an infant, but thisi'eed may be changed so that any other type of note may be emitted, as desired. 7 p

As many changes could be made in this construction without departingiromthe scope of the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my'invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I V

1. A device of the class described having in combination, a casing, a collapsible bellows in said casing, said bellows having two heads, one fixed with respect to the casing and they other being a weighty head movable back and forth in the casing to collapse and distend the bellows by gravity, a reed in the easing carried by the fixed head at the opposite side of the bellows from the movable head and operated by the bellows, means in the'casing having'an orifice through which the sound from the reed may escape, a pivoted door for opening and closing said orifice, resilient means normally tending to hold said door in position to close said orifice.

and a control member carried by the weight-y head and extending through the bellows and acting to open said door as the bellows is operated.

2. A'device of the class described comprising, in combination,a casing, a head mounted therein, a bellows attached to one face of said head, a weight mounted on the free end of said bellows, sound producing means on the other face of said head in communication with the interior ofsaid bellows, sound regulating means in communication with said sound pro ducing means, said sound regulating means including a chamber having an orifice and'a" door therefor normally held to close said orilice, and a rod mounted on said weight-and extending through said head, the extending portion thereof being provided with cam surfaces operable to vary the'position' of said door relative to said orifice, the said rod passing perpendicular to the door near the hinge of the door, and a rightangle arm having one end connected with the door and one end provided with a device engaging said cam rod.

A device of the classdescribed compris ing, in combination, a casing, a head mounted intermediate the ends'thereofia bellows attached to one face of said head, aweight mounted on the free end'of said bellows to close the same, a reed chamber mounted on the other face of said head in communication with the interior of saidbellows, anorifice chamber mounted partly upon the reed chamber and partly on the said h'ead'and in coin munication with said reed chamber through the reed, a pivotally mounted door for said orifice resiliently held toclosethe same, an otlset arm mounted on said door and a rod attached to said weight and extending through said head, the end-of said rod being provided with cam surfaces adapted to en gage said arm whereby to vary the position of said door relative to said orifice as said weight moves to expel air from said bellows.

i. A device of the class described having in combination, a casing, a collapsible bellows in said casing, saidbellows having two heads, one fixed with respect to "the casing and the other being a weighty head movable back and forth in the casing to collapseand distend the bellows by gravity,'areed in the casing carried by the fixed head at the opposite side of thebellows from the movable heads, and operated bythebellows to speak upon compression of the bellows,"means in the casing havingan orifice through which the sound from the-reed may escape, a pivoted doorfo'r opening and closing said orifice, resilient means normally tending to hold said door in position to close said orifice, and a control membercarried bv the weighty head and actingto open said door as the bellows is operated. V

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

' FRED EV NS. 

